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OpenAI Lobbied Against California's SB 53 Before Backing It, and Its Author Now Takes AI Safety to Congress

November 7, 2026 at 11:01 EST

Policy & Regulation

OpenAI initially lobbied against California's SB 53, the AI safety bill, before later supporting it, according to recent reporting. The bill's author, state Senator Scott Wiener, is now bringing AI safety legislation to Congress.

AI Policy · California SB 53

OpenAI moved from opposing to supporting California's AI safety bill

The bill's author, state Senator Scott Wiener, is now bringing AI safety legislation to Congress, shifting the debate over frontier AI oversight from state capitols to Washington.

The sequence

Step 1

OpenAI lobbies against SB 53

→

Step 2

OpenAI later supports the bill

→

Step 3

Sen. Wiener takes AI safety legislation to Congress

The report frames the change as a shift in position rather than a simple reversal.

Case for state-level rules

States can act faster than Congress.
Supporters see state bills as a practical starting point for frontier AI oversight.

Concern about a patchwork

Critics warn that differing requirements across states create a patchwork.
Uneven rules could complicate compliance for developers.

Key question

Who writes and enforces AI safety rules, and how much influence does industry have over that process?

Not yet confirmed

The specific provisions OpenAI sought to change

Not yet confirmed

The exact timing of the position change

Not yet confirmed

The federal proposals under discussion

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